Beijing Olympian and 2010 World bronze medallist Brad Kahlefeldt has amassed
numerous wins on the international stage but is yet to claim a national
sprint championship crown, while Australia's two-time world champion and
Olympic bronze medallist Emma Moffatt is keen to notch up her second.
The Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist is hoping Geelong will deliver him a
long-awaited career win as the pair contest the Australian Sprint
Championships (750m swim, 20km cycle, 5km run) at the Geelong Multi Sport
Festival this weekend.
This weekend of racing also marks the first event for the pair as they set
about making the team to contest a second successive Olympic Games.
The split weekend of racing will see the men take to the course on Saturday
afternoon with the Elite and Under 23 men getting underway at 4.45pm our
junior men will warm up the track at 3.00pm. The event doubles as a
selection race for our juniors with first across the line to receive
automatic inclusion onto the team to contest the World Championships in
Beijing. It is also the third race in the four-race Series for the
Australian Junior Triathlon Championships.
For Kahlefeldt, this will be his season debut as he has not raced since the
grand final of the World Championships Series in Budapest last September.
Previously, Kahlefeldt has chosen Mooloolaba ITU World Cup to open his
season but opted to race the sprint distance to test himself as he prepares
to defend his title in Mooloolaba before the opener of the 2011 World
Championships Series in Sydney on April 10.
While 31-year-old Kahlefeldt is the standout in the field, there is some
quality opposition hoping to thwart his attempt to secure the title and grab
some of the $50,000 prize money on offer.
"It has been a long time since I last raced, but I've had a really good
break and took the time out to relax and rest my body. We've had a good
solid block of training working on base fitness for some time so will be
good to see where I'm at," said Kahlefeldt.
Kahlefeldt is no stranger to Geelong racing, having competed there numerous
times during his career.
"I'm really looking forward to racing this weekend and my first hit out, I'm
not expecting anything too much but a national title would be nice."
Kahlefeldt says his focus is on performing consistently in the World
Championship Series to gain selection for London 2012.
"It's really the key and if I can maintain good form across the series I'm
hopeful of early selection. It would be nice to get in the team by the end
of the year and not leave it till next year," add Kahlefeldt.
French sensation and Olympian Laurent Vidal will make the trip across from
New Zealand where he bases himself these days. Vidal says he is very excited
to compete this weekend and comes into the race with good form after a
recent win over Kris Gemmell (NZ) in Wanaka last month.
British Olympian and World Under 23 champion Will Clarke has made his
temporary home on the Gold Coast and will make his presence known among the
field.
The Australian chances will come from our emerging talent including, Bryce
McMaster and Sam Betten who already has some sprint racing under their belt
with recently win's in the Gatorade Queensland Tri Series.
Specialist swim/biker Clayton Fettell is a chance if he can get away in the
early stages and hold on in the run.
Jesse Featonby (ACT) will go into Saturday's race full of confidence after
his first elite career win over a quality field at the Seven Sunshine Coast
Caloundra Enduro Tri two weeks ago, while the Victorian charge will come
from Peter Kerr and Jamie Huggett.
The women will star on Sunday afternoon following the Australian
Championship Series Age Group race (1.5km swim | 40km cycle | 10km run) with
juniors at 1.00pm then elite and under 23 from 2.45pm.
For Moffatt this will be a second national title and while it's not her
primary focus as she is in full preparation for the upcoming international
season and a possible third consecutive world championship title, she will
be giving it her all on Sunday.
"Everything's being going well in training and no major problems, although
this is a little early in our season Geelong is going to be something
totally different for me to see where I'm at ahead of Mooloolaba and
Sydney," she said.
Moffatt says she has previously raced in Geelong, recalling a sprint finish
between herself, Leanda Cave and Rina Hill.
"Geelong is a really nice place and to come away with a national title would
be fantastic.
The two-time world champion has now set her sights on a third world title
and a second Olympic appearance but says the selection criteria is tough.
"I'd have to win the world title to get it (selection), win the London leg
of the World Series and then be placed in the top three at end of the season
otherwise it goes back to discretionary vote," she said.
"I'll be trying my best out there on Sunday as it would be nice to have
another national title."
Gold Coast based Moffatt will face some well credentialed opposition,
firstly from her own teammates in Under 23 world champion Emma Jackson and
Junior world champion Ashleigh Gentle.
After her first season competing in the Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World
Championship Series, Jackson has matured as an athlete, gained a wealth of
experience and is being eyed as a potential London 2012 inclusion.
Gentle is improving with every season and recently took out the ITU Sprint
Oceania Cup in Devonport. But this will be a step up in the quality of the
field. She will match it on the bike and run but will need to stay in
contact with the leaders in the swim.
Canadian teammates Lauren Campbell and Kirsten Sweetland, who have based
themselves in Australia to train ahead of the first international race at
the Mooloolaba ITU World Cup in March and the Dextro Energy
Triathlon - ITU World Championship Sydney are real contenders. The pair
recently competed at the Caloundra Enduro Triathlon claiming third and
fourth respectively.
2010 Mooloolaba ITU World Cup winner Vendula Frintova (CZE) had an unsettled
2010 season but is sure to be in the mix over this distance. Vendula and
Campbell are under the guidance of Australian coach Darren Smith in
Canberra.
It will be the first race in the Triathlon Australia 2011 National
Triathlon Championship Series, which continues in Mooloolaba for the Olympic
Distance race for Age and Elite on March 27 and culminate with the opening
round of the Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championships which will
include the Series Age Group race on April 10.
Saturday, 19 February
15:00
Australian Triathlon Junior Championships (Men)
Steampacket Gardens
16:45
Australian Triathlon Elite Sprint Championships (Men)
Steampacket Gardens
Sunday, 20 February
7:30
Geelong Triathlon - Age Group Olympic Distance (1.5km swim, 40km cycle, 10km
run
Eastern Beach
13:00
Australian Triathlon Junior Championships (Women)
Steampacket Gardens
14:45
Australian Triathlon Elite Sprint Championships (Women)
Steampacket Gardens
Elite Course - SPRINT Distance
Swim 750m (1 lap)
Cycle 20km (4 laps x 2.5 km
course)
Run 5km (2 laps x 2.5km course)
Location Eastern Beach, Geelong Victoria
For further event information www.usmevents.com.au, phone the GMSF hotline
on 1300 797 723 or email us at [email protected].
